WASHINGTON -- Reports of oil field fires in southern Iraq threatened global efforts to maintain stability in the world's energy supplies, said the Wall Street Journal on Friday. But oil traders, apparently expecting a swift U.S. victory, pushed oil prices lower, it said.

The fires sparked fears that Saddam Hussein had torched some of his country's oil wells. The extent of the damage wasn't known, but the destruction of numerous Iraqi wells could squeeze global oil supplies in the long term, meaning oil and gasoline prices could surge higher again.

LAVAL, Quebec -- Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has purchased 92 Dairy Mart Stores that have been under management contract since the closing in August 2002 of the acquisition of Dairy Mart Convenience Stores Inc.

After analyzing the performance of these stores, Couche-Tard decided to purchase them, subsequent to renegotiating all of the leases. Of these, 23 will be transferred to the Mac's banner at a later date, 48 others will operate under a franchise formula and the remaining 21 will be sold or closed in the coming weeks.